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Avatar, Native Americans, and Human Stereotyping
Technological triumph aside, director/writer James Cameron displays a serious carelessness and irresponsibility in his film Avatar. Think a demeaning romanticizations of Native Americans, but on some distant, LSD planet.
Clearly the movie Avatar is about drawing huge crowds by exploiting the essential elements of box office hits–battles, romance, explosions, trippy aesthetics, somehow sex–and its also clearly about showcasing the new, who-really-cares, whatever technology. And that’s great, thats its intention, to be Hollywood entertainment, and I think the world understands this. Good for this man and good for the people who enjoyed his actually pretty interesting production.
But if you decide to un-plug yourself for a minute and check the movie against the reality you know, a pretty grossly simplified picture of humanity is right in front of you. The war-monger hardass general who just wants to blow stuff up; executive guy who only cares about Pandora’s “petroleum equivalent”; or try the tree hugging scientist and the tribal people who are entirely guided by beliefs in “nature-harmony.” Characters are cardboard cutouts.
And I guess thats forgivable since it poses as entertainment, and its character depth is similar to most Hollywood blockbusters. And maybe its likewise understandable since Cameron has spent years of his life dealing with pseudo humans– robots, aliens, and psycho paths in the Terminator, Alien, and Rambo movies, respectively– and maybe this and Cameron’s five marriages reflect some unusual or contrived understanding he has of people in general. But the over simplifications goes deeper than 2-D cardboard, and arguably these simplifications are dangerous. Arguably they reflect a lack of moral engagement with the world.
The not-so-discreet political message is an example. Evil Western materialists vs pure, nature-loving natives. American culture is impersonal and sterile, and the tribal life is everything humans were meant to be. The native world is harmonious and without in-born problems, and the “White man” messes it all up. The native world must be better because Jake gets to change “race-cultures” at the end, to produce the “happy ending.” I also think I heard “shock and awe,” so now Bush is in the picture. Comments about America seep in a manipulative way.
More fundamentally: How are the tribal people, the Native Pandoricans, not projections of crude, romanticized ideas about tribal people? Or even Native Americans? Lets imagine Cameron’s rationale: So there is this distant, unexplored planet 150 years in the future. We’ll call it Pandora, because the White Man will be opening a box of trouble. There are animals– stegosauruses, pterodactyls, black, furless dogs, and fairy-jellyfish. Sounds cool. There are plants, that are neon, and there are “trees of life,” V.I.P. trees. And on this planet of course is the human-equivalent.
Blue humans, how should I portray them, wonders Cameron? Our 300 million dollar budget, which could possibly bring a continent or two out of poverty, isn’t too concerned with the details of this. I’ll just try to make it look real and borrow some crude ideas from anthropology or my gut feelings on Native American history. Well, they are tribal, so lets divide them into clans. We need them to love nature, like “really” love it, so how about a few scenes where everyone locks arms and chants, and fanatically, around a tree. And lets fabricate some nature-philosophy about the interconnectedness of everything that permeates their world-view, I think tribal societies are into that. Alpha-male rivalry, ok, that will be a feature, and sure, an event to mark passage into manhood. Cool, a Native Pandorican society. There, it has a nice surface flavor of a real tribal group.
Even if his portrayal is or isn’t similar to what life is really like among Aborigines (which its not in fundamental ways)– he’s still completely inventing a tribal society while using various crude conceptions of real native people and their real native cultures. He even takes the narrative of the “White man meets natives” story, and in a not so flattering way to the Pandoricans, the White Man leads them out of trouble, that is, the White Man saves them. Does he know what he’s doing?
So he invents a society based on the culture and experiences of real people, where he implants this real culture and experience into some weird, fantasy-nerd world, and then romanticizes it all. Can there be no consequences in inventing a society that inevitably speaks to real native societies? Does this film not have an imbedded perception, an assumption, about tribal societies, one that is crude and clearly draws upon and ultimately perpetuates stereotypes? Just because the movie takes place on some fantasy planet, it doesn’t mean you can cut corners. Clearly Cameron took the easy route when he just sort of “threw together” a tribal culture.
You can say movies don’t influence reality anyways, thats its all entertainment. If you do, just keep in mind the packs of kids who were probably sitting around you.
I wasted part of my life sitting here reading your carrying’s on about Camerons “Thrown Together” version of tribal life. You have no examples, basis, or any real reason for your belly aching of any sort. Besides unless your blind, or happen to have not been watching the same movie everyone else has been, these so called “new, who-really-cares, whatever technology” is a masterpiece in itself. Cameron has already made over twice what the movie originally cost, and unless you have discovered an 8th continent, (In which case it might be worth putting up with your editorial) then none of the existing 7 continents could be fed with $300 million. You yourself have displayed “a serious carelessness and irresponsibility” when it comes to movie critiquing. When you find a real argument please let me know. Until then Avatar is a work of art which represents a tribal society in turmoil brought united by someone who was once believed an outsider. If you cant enjoy the very accurate reference to native american culture then you obviously missed the entire point of the movie.
Look, Asgard, the movie is about being a hit and showcasing special effects, its not about native americans, as much as you think native americans are the “entire point.” That’s why its messed up, if not hilarious, that somehow in this strange trippy planet in the future, amid dinosaurs attacking helicopters, he manages to **patronize native americans**. And in doing so he perpetuates a stereotype of native americans. The main point is why? Why does he need to bring native americans into it? Its silly. He’s just causing harm if anything. Asgard, we will have something to discuss if you can answer that question.
Its hard to see Avatar in this objective way if you praise it as a masterpiece, and if you get sucked into the plot and characters. Children will get lost in it. Adults will think its “cool,” but they should notice how weird it is. I’m glad someone, somewhere spent millions of dollars developing computer graphic technology, so that movie animation can be a little better, but honestly, its not relevant to me, so I don’t care and I think most people don’t either.
I’m happy you went “all out” for a Triond article.
Ransomy, it is obvious that you hold a bias against Avatar and James Cameron. I can see your point of view, but your argument loses its luster when you use personal attacks, like Cameron’s five marriages which is irrelevant. The story of Avatar clearly parallels the story of many native american tribes, the Navaho and Lakota were pushed of their lands for mining purposes. There are several stereotypes as there are in almost all movies, but I do not perceive them as negative, and neither does Wes Studi, a prominent actor of cherokee descent who played Eytucan the tribal leader in the film. I think your assumption that most people don’t care about the new technology is false, because thats what everyone is talking about and whether you admit it or not it is amazing. If you didn’t like this movie maybe you should watch Ferngully or Dances with Wolves.
I’ve got time for an argument, and i would have rebutted much sooner, but my powers been out for a week… :/
Well technically speaking, he never actually involved native Americans. Never once was it mentioned. He simply used a native american/tribal lifestyle as a base for how a humanoid civilization might actually be developing. If they looked like us (for the most part, two arms two legs) then they might evolve like us. So he simply developed a culture that might befit something so similar to us. Also, in what way does he **patronize native Americans**. I don’t in the least bit feel patronized by the movie. And if i wanted i could legally declare myself Cherokee. Not in the least do i feel like he did a bad job interpreting how a humanoid civilization might survive. So thank you Ace, you make a very good point. there really is no reason for personal attacks on James Cameron. Anything someone does is instantaneously considered a stereotype. There impossible to avoid in a movie anymore. Your ALWAYS going to offend someone.
As an SF movie, I believe Avatar to be fantastic; a refreshing–and more importantly, entertaining–piece of storytelling that did manage to an extent I have rarely had.
Though I do agree that there was a strong reference to Native Americans, and that it did serve to reinforce politically correct stereotypes of them, I can’t for the life of me see how it’s any different from what’s being taught at any primary school in the country. Of course, movies have the power to influence, and any student of history will assert that the Native American tribes did take some bad lumps (many of which I will be the first to say were utterly deplorable) at the hands of the colonists/expansionist US.
That said, I think that the point zoomzoom was trying to make was that Europeans/Americans and Native Americans were depicted through reference in caricature–a rosy pink caricature at that in regards to the latter, and if one is looking at the movie as socio-historical commentary, it’s slightly one-sided (which is a double edged sword for all involved). I think we need to be aware that the USA did some terrible things in its past, but that Native Americans were just as human (with all that that word entails) as the European colonists and Americans were.
I would suggest people who watch Avatar should take it for what it is–an interesting premise, a riveting story, and a damn good movie, and leave it at that. I, for one, plan on buying the DVD when it comes out–this is one of the best Sci-Fi movies I’ve seen in a long time.
Yes, beyond that ’so what’ technology (lol), Avatar has a historical theme clearly– and in this case, it was a happy (semi-happy) story. For the real native-Americans, it was a tragic ending. hmmm… someone forgot their history… the Native Americans lived peacefully and then lost their entire land and were wiped out by the Western invasion. Don’t seem to recall the Native Americans going to Spain to do that to them…
Avatar does use that them history very strongly, but that’s not sterotyping, that’s just history. If you note, the Navi is the movie were not portrayed as know-it-all saints (in the end, they took help and were led by the ‘outsider’ avatar, as they were being defeated and humbled).. they were just ‘humans with good and bad elements in them’ who lived with the land– clearly something the Native Americans did in the past. But these ‘humans’ which were THREATENED and so had to defend themselves. The movie was being shown from their perspective. If you were born in the Native culture, you’d have a different persective too.
You obviously don’t like the film’s theme because you don’t seem to side with the Native American view, and make it into a black-vs white (good vs bad thing). It’s not– it’s about people defending their land– and if Mexico were try to claim California under Mexico, you’d feel the SAME.
It’s a film, and a film tries to get you to see things from someone’s else perspective sometimes- that’s all.
P.S.
Your views continue to puzzle:
“Blue humans, how should I portray them, wonders Cameron? “==>
The film did not portray blue humans, but an avatar of the alien race. “Blue humans” in history are religious figures of Avatar in Hindu history, who had a blue hue.. coming from the ’sky’, who come down to Earth to save the Earth during its turbulent times. This is part of the religion.
There is much more to this film than just plain black and white Terminator (good vs bad), as you stated. But people are going to see films from their persective, and yours is deeply puzzling.
You forgot the ultimate hero of the film is Jake Scully, the ‘white guy’, and perhaps Dr. Grace Augustine. The Navis takes the help of Jake Scully– he has the blessings of their deity. And ultimately, it seems James Cameron is seeing the heros of society into these two characters– not necessarily just the Navis. In short, Jake Scully, is the Avatar who decends the planet to save them… (he is the HERO of the film.. similar to the avatar of the Hindu religion).
No, things are NOT the black and white way you portrayed.. see it again after reading your history, please. In this film, the white man is BOTH the villian and the ulitmate hero: something we all have choices for.
I’m amazed at how shallow people are in critiquing this movie. I believe that the Native representation of the Pandorican people is quite appropriate, given their connection with the mother earth that few other religions/peoples have embraced.
Speaking from a strictly spiritual point of view, the movie has excelled in demonstrating a dictum that to embrace anothers point of view, one must first empty their mind of their own prejudices in perspective.
Did you really miss the point that greedy pursuit can destroy true wealth? Did you really miss the point of the value of our interconnection? The ending was about embracing a spiritual sense, not about a quick and happy ending.
Perhaps your disappointment in the movie for its special effects and cultural depiction is because that is all you can see in the movie. While I enjoy SF movies above all others, it is a spiritual sensitive that gives this movie much more depth than you apparently are capable of perceiving.
I just finished watching Avatar and frankly can’t figure out what all the fuss is about. Visually, it is stunning (although after 2 hrs and 40 min of 3D I began to feel queasy) but plotwise? I felt it was a rehash of every White Man Ravages Nature and Natives movie ever made from Ferngully to Dances with Wolves. I have no objection to the message but it was so predictable and the characters nothing but stereotypical cutouts (Evil Military Man, Greedy Corporate Guy, Noble and Wise clan Leaders, Chief’s brave and feisty daughter who just happens to be promised to clan’s next in line leader but falls in love with Our Hero who is the Chosen one, etc.). The whole native representation felt like like such a cliche I could almost quote lines before they were said. The natives could have been so much more and not quite so one dimensional. With such stunning visuals, the film deserved a strong, more original plot and not just a rehash of a dozen other environmental movies.
Yes, there was a strong message but far from being subtle, I felt like we were being beaten over the head with it to the point I began almost wishing something would blow up. Again, the ending was so predictable I could figure it out by the middle of the film. Did anyone NOT see Sully taming the giant red flying thing to rally the troops or becoming the avatar in the end?
I went into this film knowing next to nothing about it so had no preconceived notions. I have enjoyed other Cameron films in the past and love Scifi. So my final opinion:Entertaining movie, definitely, Best movie ever? Far from it!
Well, I liked the review.
Let me tell you what the fuss is about. White man comes to Native Indians again to take what isn’t theres. White man wants to be one of them goes to (of course) chief’s daughter changes to become them. (Like getting a tan, talking the black slang or pretending your greatgrandmother was Indian). Then (of course) the white man save the helpless primative Indians from the same people who had no business coming there. Like every place else in history.
Oh yes, all the voice overs for the “Blue Indians” are minorities. All the bad people are White.
Get it now?
Maybe if some of you would look up how Indians are treated in this country NOW, not back when, but NOW, you will see why we are sick and tired of it.
Tired of it – get over it, there were a lot of relations to other african people, south american and many other tribes. Besides the movie was about the treatment of the a living planet.
Ok, just saw the movie (in 3D), and it was ok. I have a minor in native american studies and im sorry, but to say thay that theres no reference to native ameicans is wrong. There is, many, and every reference is a stereotypical reference. Watch Last of the Mohicans, Dances with wolves, Little Big Man, or even The Searchers. Cameron just took an old script and slapped some glitter on it. Sorry nerds.
Zoomzoom
I more or less enjoyed the movie, without giving it much thought. But, I agree that there is no character development, and the characters are essentially just cliches.
As for the message, I think you should note that such a blatant, glaring parallel might have its advantages. Let’s assume that the author wanted to allow the audience to see imperialism in a new light–to see it from the other side, and empathize indigenous populations. Native Americans are obviously a great example, and I think if the movie were less stereotypical, average people wouldn’t make the connections.
I’m sure there are exceptions to this, but surely you’ve noticed that many of the movies that are supposedly the greatest (according film critics) are often ones which average people (not film critics) don’t watch and/or appreciate? Citizen Cane, Casablanca, Vertigo? These are great movies, but sadly, their full brilliance will surely only be enjoyed by an elite few. Most people I’ve talked to haven’t even seen these movies.(Maybe people in your social circles have, but this review makes it quite clear that you are not representative of the populous)
You know that movies shape societal attitudes, etc. So, while I agree that Avatar is not (and shouldn’t be) considered a brilliant piece of art, let’s hope that people are able to learn a simple yet very, very valuable message from this movie.
Ok, its a movie not a university course. A fantasy, simply for entertainment. Relax and enjoy. Try to be less cynical have more fun.
This movie makes me want to puke.
I agree. I’m Native American, and while I was watching Avatar I thought it was a really good movie, but the obvious draws from Native American and African Aboriginal culture kind of annoyed me. I did a search to see if there was anything on it, found this article, and feel my thoughts have been put into perfect words. Thanks for sharing.
It’s a fictional story, in fact, a science fiction story. All fiction borrows from real life elements and exaggerates, embellishes and romanticizes them for the sake of storytelling… to spin a good yarn. In fact, such storytelling is common to all cultures and is intrinsic in human nature. The only requirement for the storyteller is: can he/she make the story seem plausible enough for the audience to suspend disbelief and be captivated by the story? Avatar and James Cameron accomplish this to a high degree and to the great pleasure of audiences around the world. The author misses this point entirely and tries to hold the movie to some ridiculous standards of historical accuracy and political correctness. Like others, I wasted my time reading this ludicrous “review” and felt compelled to comment on its utter nonsense.
When I saw the movie I was kind of stunned, in a good way, and impressed with the visual effects. Then I got home, the *zo my god* feelings wore off, and I thought a little bit about some things in the movie that I didn’t care for. For one thing, how much sense does it make that some guy can just cart off to a new planet and within 3 months know everything there is to being one of the native inhabitants. That is actually impossible. I also did not like the end, where Jake says something like, “the sky people had to return to their dying planet (HaHa).” While he, a former “sky person” gets to stay. It’s just too smug.
But other than that I must say I still enjoyed the movie.
The Humans should have just put them all into reserves and introduced them to Drugs and Alcohol. Yah! Alien Fire Water that I bet they have never encountered and have no defense against!
yep, he sure painted an ugly caricature of the Marines, didn’t he? that was troubling. Oh, and the whole fairy tale ending for “the Savages”… was that suppose to fool anybody? as a mixed blood myself, i just had to roll my eyes. all in all…. eh
It’s disturbing how a beautiful and simple film that references the destruction of the native tribes and nature (not only of the U.S. but elsewhere…and continuing to this day) provokes such anger in a few people.
Who really cares. Would any haters be up in arms so much if this was about an alien race that came to earth and tried to conquer this planet? How many times has that been done? And who cares? If someone can do an alien invasion movie where “bad” aliens come to earth and we “good” humans fight back and destroy the threat and win against impossible odds, and it has great special effects and the overall story is pretty gripping, then I’ll go and see it, no matter how cliche it is.
It’s a wrong assumption that anything that’s “cliche” must NEVER be shown again, in any form. But I am getting sort of sick of the “angry-for-no-good-reason critic” cliche, personally. It’s been done to death, and it’s frankly tiring.
After skimming through the comments, I find it hilarious that the only person who said he liked the review (zoomzoom) was the reviewer, himself!
Amen Ricky. I’m American Indian and I wasn’t offended and in fact I loved the movie. I loved the way they showed the deep connection to nature and all of life and how it’s so difficult for a non-native to understand. I face this reality every day and nobody I know understands it and it feels impossible to explain. The movie did a pretty good job in my mind. Ok, maybe nowadays not all Indians think like in the movie- that’s possibly what some are offended over. The fact is many Indians today have been screwed up by the Westernized culture- which the movie also hints at potentially happening to the tribe in the movie. There is a disconnect from the old ways for many Indians although a lot still have a connection to those ways deep down. Maybe comparing it to what many Indians today believe or understands is wrong, because I think in many places the old ways have been lost. Overall, looking at the negative reviews, it just looks like people are searching for something negative to say- they have nothing better to do with their lives then complain. I recommend to each of you to look within and deal with your own demons before trashing everyone else.
Hey it least the Pandorans are pictured in a positive light. I’d say the kids watching Avatar will walk out of the theater with a better view of native peoples than those walking out of an old John Wayne style western popular in the past where, not to bash The Duke, all Indians are evil, ignorant savages.
It took me four minutes to read this review. I get paid 22.69 per hour. I want my money back! What a waste of time.
I saw the movie. I was against it (I am a Native American, too, full-blood, enrolled in a federally recognized tribe) but all the hype made me want to stay the hell away from the movie. I rented it, loved it, bought it.
Critics are really just authors that can’t get published anyways. Hmph.
I agree with the writer of the blog. As far as story line goes a three year old child with a crayon could of done a better job, and all the native american stuff was a bore. This was not even close to a sci fi movie. It was more nerdy, dungeons and dragons meets, peter jackson, with some native american histrory and crappy american propoganda in it. How this made a billiion dollars is ridiculous and I bet that billion is not going to the save mother earth Gaia foundation. Im objective and the movie as far as script was pathetic. But I only bought the movie to see what the special effects looked like on blu-ray and after that Avatar will be thrown into a room and collect dust. I was not surprise though and have no complaints and respect the effort and work they put into the digital effects etc. But is was very transparent, unrealistic and boring. Too obvious to realise where the “story was going”
And to wondercookie if critics are only just writers who cant get published… if the author of this site even wants to submit any work to our publishing house you are welcome… the movie was what it was..
It’d be nice if he actually give native american’s credit. Clearly this is a story of how native american’s could have been if a great white leader sided with then. Which doesnt happen in real life.
On a side note, the american government is the greatest and worst thing that happened in history. Not only has it brought world peace and democracy thoughout the world. It has destroyed hundred’s of american indigenous (to which you can compare to europe’s 50,000 countries packed into a small arena), it has also allowed the world to forget about them. I find it odd how if we were allowed to live and modernize our country, we would have been the greatest country in the history of mankind, and the term “American” would have ment a red man who lives in nature with all things. Not your “white man, the destroyer of man”"
You put into words exactly what I was thinking while I watched this film. I felt like I was watching Blue Native Americans and was wondering how they would feel about that? The graphics were amazing but the story was so cliche. I was very disappointed that Cameron couldn’t write something more original to go along with his awesome technical skills. It’s really too bad he didn’t collaborate with someone who had some fresh original ideas. Back to my original question though, I really would like to know what Native Americans think of this movie…honored? Insulted? Hmmm….
Wow…people never get tired of the “evil white man” snivel do they? Ok a few history facts for those of you that are naive enough to think the “white man” is the only race to destroy someone else’s culture:
The MOORS and the OTTOMANS swept through southern and eastern Europe and destroyed populations and cultures for hundreds of years. Revenge against the white man you say? WRONG – this was millenniums BEFORE Europeans went to America, started the slave trade, settled Australia, etc etc.
Another fun fact: the ancient Celts (from Gaul – present day France – and spreading into Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, were notorious for being nature bound. Anyone ever heard of the Druids?
So next time any moron wants to spout off another tiring story of the evil white man, please keep these statements in mind. In the end, knowing this will help dim your ignorance just a little bit more.
Native Americans? I thought It was more like how the English treated the Scottish or the Romans treated the tribes of Germania. I didnt see any Teepees in the movie….
I agree with you. Avatar is a very stereotypical movie. I love it and its great! but its definately stereotypical!
Why does everyone keep saying Native American. The blue people might resemble the Native American in some way, but I also see African as well. I mean, does Moat the tribe Queen look Native American to you?, She sure looks African to me!!
druids have lost their spiritual bond with the earth, sure caucasians did have a bond with mother earth, more than a millenium ago….i dont feel honored about the stereotypes and yes the story is cliche, its hard to believe that native americans would become a minority in their own land, the only race on the planet to experience this, children are abused and adults are stared down and revered just for being native american, why? because america just loves to spend and take excessively? yes. The fact that they are patriotic about the genocide and disease and murder that they took upon the natives? yes. and america must have balls the size of fists to tell mexicans they are immigrants crossing the border, while mexicans originally known as mayans, aztecs, and the hopi have been, or were trading with the north for thousands of years. and dont go telling a native american to go read his history, white america has attempted to erase their history from the books, residential schools is a good example on separating children from their parents to prevent oral history from being passed on, losing their native tongue as a result from these Aushzwitz like schools. children were raped and murdered and were not questioned by their governments, as a result the few past generations have become alcoholic, suicidal, gambling bunch, not all but some. So when an uneducated white person tells me to go read my history i just laugh, by uneducated i mean beleiving what he or she is told and never digging though the pile for truth, theres your share on native americans, good movie though
I am Native American and felt the plight of the Na’iv in this movie, it is a plight of many in the past, and many in the future.
Sheesh, the movie was mostly about earths indigenous peoples or First Peoples. aka – the people before white people got there.
Whites seemed to do the same things in the places they \”discovered,\” the movie is just pointing out similarities and ideals that allowed whites to enjoy the \”white privilege\” they currently enjoy. They did this to entire continents and an entire side of the world, it was all a system.
Some of those things are the schools, supposedly \”educating\” them and teaching them English and when they don\’t move finally declaring war on them to take resources back home to England because of cultural differences on how the earth is to be used and because their own homeland hardly had any resources left.
It was also a bit of Pocahontas thrown in there as well. \”Old World\” visitor arrives in \”New World\” and falls in love with a woman and with the beauty and pureness of their people compared to his own as keeps happening even to this day.
I noticed a lot of white people squirming in the theater when I saw it, it\’s because it was uncomfortable for them to see a shortened version of their real history here on MY side of the planet. It hit a nerve with them, also with the writer of this piece.
As soon as I saw the previews for it I already knew I had lived the movie and then when I finally saw it I rolled my eyes, I knew it was going to be about \”Space Indians.\”
AVATAR IS NOT BASED ON NATIVE AMERICANS. IF ANYTHING THE PEOPLE ARE BASED ON THE AFRICANS. MOST OF THE ACTORS ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN. THE LANGUAGE IS CLOSE TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN LANGUAGE. NEYTIRI IS AN AFRICAN NAME. AND AT ONE POINT IN THE MOVIE (TOWARDS THE END WHEN THEY WERE FIGHTING) THERE WAS AN SOUTH AFRICAN FLAG. They wore jewellery and piecing like africans and the beliefs about god and nature are the same
I my research on Avatar I have found the film is connected to a huge number of well researched cultural examples from all over the world ,There are a lot of African refrences and many central american as well,as north american, one interessting fact, the name of th Na\’Vi clan tribe is \”Omaticaya\” the word is very likely a split on Olmec-Maya , Avatar makes refrences to the \”Dream Warror\” \”look up \”olmec/toltec dream\” there is a very strong refrence to the kenetic comsept of \”oneness called Ma\’at , why refrence real world examples , Avatar is a mirror story by using real cultural connections some form a strong connection of who the fictional Na\”Vi relate too \”native peoples\” but cant directly label them \”Zulu or Cheyenne. quite a powerfull storytelling tool in itself.